The air in Newbridge was thick with the scent of rain and warm concrete when the black limousine stopped in front of Skye Tower, the tallest building in the financial district. Élise Moreau adjusted her gray suit and took a deep breath. She wasn't the type to tremble before challenges, but today, something tightened her chest.
"Are you ready?" asked her assistant, Clara, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"As ready as I can be," Élise replied with a tight smile.
In the glass elevator, the lights reflected her image: a determined woman, but the dark circles under her eyes betrayed nights of stress. The business world was ruthless, but what awaited her now went far beyond financial negotiations.
Gabriel Morel awaited her in the panoramic office on the 52nd floor. The legendary CEO of Morel Corp, known for his icy demeanor and absolute control, looked at her with a mix of curiosity and challenge. His blue eyes seemed to pierce her thoughts.
"You must be Élise Moreau," he said, his voice deep and commanding.
"That's correct," she replied, clutching her folder.
Gabriel appraised her from head to toe. There was something unsettling about her: that fierce determination, that visible refusal to submit to his natural authority.
"I didn't expect you to be… so direct," he said.
Élise felt a shiver run down her spine. She wasn't sure if it was from cold or challenge.
"And I didn't expect to be here to sign a… marriage contract," she added, keeping her professional neutrality.
Gabriel smiled—a rare, calculated smile.
"Circumstances sometimes require exceptional measures. We both have something to protect. And this marriage is the most… pragmatic solution."
The tone was cold, but the subtext was clear: this alliance was neither romantic nor optional. Élise raised an eyebrow, unable to hide her irritation.
"You seem very confident," she said. "But be warned, I don't easily bend."
A heavy, electric silence settled. Gabriel stepped slightly closer, nearly brushing the corner of his desk.
"I like challenges," he said simply.
The initial shock was set: two strong wills, opposed yet fascinated, forced to coexist in a confined space. The city continued to breathe around them, but in that office, the world was reduced to this contract and the palpable tension between them.